National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Trichlorofluoromethane
Status: Unregulated - EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Trichlorofluoromethane (Freon 11) is a refrigerant, solvent, chemical intermediate and halocarbon aerosol that was banned in 2000 under the Montreal Protocol because of its ozone-depleting properties. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 17 |
- |
- |
| Water utilities | 90 |
- |
- |
| People Served | 6,536,724 |
- |
- |
Health Concerns for Trichlorofluoromethane:
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Occupational hazards
- Ecotoxicology
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
Trichlorofluoromethane Exposure by State
Water utilities in 17 states have reported detecting Trichlorofluoromethane in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Trichlorofluoromethane contamination | |
|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | |
| California | 14 | 4,337,080 |
| New York | 16 | 557,363 |
| Washington | 6 | 321,020 |
| Florida | 2 | 308,376 |
| Wisconsin | 5 | 254,151 |
| Nebraska | 1 | 203,000 |
| Delaware | 1 | 201,000 |
| New Jersey | 8 | 195,114 |
| Montana | 1 | 56,335 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 54,000 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 29,683 |
| Missouri | 5 | 9,620 |
| Alaska | 18 | 6,065 |
| North Carolina | 6 | 3,162 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 600 |
| Virginia | 1 | 80 |
| Maine | 1 | 75 |
| Total | 90 | 6,536,724 |
The Most Polluted Communities
90 water utilities reported detecting Trichlorofluoromethane in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Trichlorofluoromethane level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Protection Ketchikan, AK | 60 | 1 of 1 | 24.1 ppb (24.1 ppb) |
| 2 | Emmonak Water System Emmonak, AK | 820 | 2 of 4 | 10.9 ppb (0 to 23.6 ppb) |
| 3 | Heatherstone West S/D Raleigh, NC | 245 | 1 of 1 | 8.9 ppb (8.9 ppb) |
| 4 | Shaktoolik Water System Shaktoolik, AK | 240 | 1 of 1 | 6.97 ppb (6.97 ppb) |
| 5 | Christopher Sims Rentals E. Linda, CA | 30 | 1 of 1 | 5.2 ppb (5.2 ppb) |
| 6 | South Naknek Water System South Nakn, AK | 66 | 1 of 1 | 5.11 ppb (5.11 ppb) |
| 7 | Ambler Community Water System Ambler, AK | 380 | 1 of 1 | 4.81 ppb (4.81 ppb) |
| 8 | White Mountain Water System White Mountain, AK | 203 | 1 of 1 | 3.7 ppb (3.7 ppb) |
| 9 | Menards Distribution Center Office Eau Claire, WI | 200 | 1 of 1 | 3.7 ppb (3.7 ppb) |
| 10 | Mcgrath Water System Mcgrath, AK | 347 | 1 of 2 | 3.25 ppb (0 to 6.5 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Trichlorofluoromethane
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| California Public Health Goals | Defined by the State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) as the level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. For acutely toxic substances, levels are set at which scientific evidence indicates that no known or anticipated adverse effects on health will occur, plus an adequate margin-of safety. PHGs for carcinogens or other substances which can cause chronic disease shall be based solely on health effects without regard to cost impacts and shall be set at levels which OEHHA has determined do not pose any significant risk to health. | 700 ppb |
| Lifetime health-based limit, non-cancer risk | Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for a lifetime of exposure. The Lifetime health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is based on exposure for a a 70-kg adult consuming 2 liters of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 2000 ppb |
| Health-Based Screening Level | A benchmark concentration of contaminants in water that may be of potential concern for human health, if exceeded. For noncarcinogens, the HBSL represents the contaminant concentration in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse effects over a lifetime of exposure. For carcinogens, the HBSL range represents the contaminant concentration in drinking water that corresponds to an excess estimated lifetime cancer risk of 1 chance in 1 million to 1 chance in 10 thousand. Source: U.S. Geological Survey. | 2000 ppb |
| Children's health-based limit for 1-day exposure | Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects for up to one day of exposure. The One-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 7000 ppb |
| Children's health-based limit for 10-day exposure | Concentration of a chemical in drinking water that is not expected to cause any adverse, noncarcinogenic effects for up to ten days of exposure. The Ten-Day health-based limit (or Health Advisory, HA) is typically set to protect a 10-kg child consuming 1 liter of water per day. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 7000 ppb |
| Drinking Water Equivalent Level | A lifetime exposure concentration protective of adverse, noncarcinogenic health effects, that assumes all of the exposure to a contaminant is from drinking water. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 10000 ppb |
Testing Summary for Trichlorofluoromethane
| Are tests routinely required for Trichlorofluoromethane by federal law? | No |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Trichlorofluoromethane (2004-2009): | 20,904 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.6 per year |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of cardiovascular or blood toxicity | Klaassen, C, 1996 |
| One or more animal studies show effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients |
| One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as a low human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,118,1971 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to high doses | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | TRICHLOROFLUOROMETHANE | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | TRICHLOROFLUOROMETHANE | •Pesticide inerts: potentially toxic, testing priority, according to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) |
| Klaassen, C, 1996 | TRICHLOROFLUOROMETHANE | •Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | METHANE, TRICHLOROFLUORO- | •This chemical was deemed a low human health priority and was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,118,1971 | METHANE, TRICHLOROFLUORO- | • occupationally related - MSHA STANDARD-air (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | METHANE, TRICHLOROFLUORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Construc) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | METHANE, TRICHLOROFLUORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Fed Cont) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | METHANE, TRICHLOROFLUORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Gen Indu) (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | METHANE, TRICHLOROFLUORO- | • occupationally related - OSHA PEL (Shipyard) (human TWA) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1987 & 2005. Office of Pesticide Programs. Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients in Pesticide Products - Categorized List of Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Klaassen, C., M. Amdur and J. Doull (eds.). Casarett and Doull's Toxicology. The Basic Science of Poisons, 5th Ed. Pergamon Press, NY. 1996. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,118,1971 | RTECS®- MSHA STANDARD-air: 3,118,1971 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Construc): 29,1926.55,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Fed Cont): 41,50-204.50,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910 1994 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Gen Indu): 29,1910.1000,1994 |
| RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915 1993 | RTECS®- OSHA PEL (Shipyard): 29,1915.1000,1993 |
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